C °lHi

BITTER CUCUMBER.

1077

pe r P ° Un d ex tract, the only preparation of colocynth of which I havehujw na experience. It would appear, partly from observation in theColo 11 sub .iect, and also from the experiments of Orfila on dogs, thatone °f those purgatives which exert a specific stimulantIn " Ce 0ver lbe large intestines.

Se Ve e ^ ce ssive doses, colocynth, both in powder and decoction, has ona occasions operated as a mortal poison, causing violent vomiting9 gorging, griping pain, and other symptoms of gastro-intestinai in-Ration. A tea-spoonful and a half of the powder (about 3 iss.)(^ r °ved fatal (Christison, On Poisons). In a case related by Orfila•tot were, besides the preceding symptoms, dimness of

pu r ,. an d slight delirium. In M. Carron d’Annecy’s case (Ibid.) thefrtss Was f°ll°' ve( l b y extreme tension and tenderness of belly, sup-0„ tj 011 of stools and urine, retraction of the testicles, and priapism.Cvj r ) Post-mortem examination there were found, besides the usualV ces of inflammation of the bowels, traces of inflammation of thep’ \drieys, and the bladder.

f *nV S1< ‘ e red in relation to other cathartics, colocynth will be found togamboge, from which it is distinguished by at least two cir-nce s: first, its cathartic effect is not the mere result of its topical^o nH 0 i Perati on> but, in part, of its specific influence over the bowels ;

vi its action on the large intestine is more manifest than that of"hil e °? e ' f n the latter property, colocynth approximates to aloes; but11 ? rea % exceeds the latter in its cathartic and hydragogueStt| ’ 11 is devoid of the tonic influence possessed by aloes, when usedIj a11 d °ses.

H;

J $Es._

:>df 0r

Besides being useful as an ordinary purgative, colocynth is

-Ve • a cting as a stimulus to the abdominal and pelvic vessels and•fri^ 111 cases of torpor or inactivity, and, on the principle of counter-The l°. n already explained (p. 45), for determining from other organs,bty Elections to its use are acute inflammatory affections of the alimen-I'Vi 11131 ’ diseases of the large intestine, &c. The following are thej Pal cases in which it is employed.

r Habitual Constipation .—As an ordinary purgative for keepingbnof Ps re gular, the compound extract of colocynth is in commonta *nl v a am °ng the public and medical men. It operates mildly, cer-’ an d effectually. I am acquainted with individuals who havel ® ls substance for years, without suffering any inconvenienceV jj?® 1. The simple extract is sometimes employed as a substitute,2. j ess advantageous.

"itb -divine Obstruction .—In some cases of obstinate constipation,Nn 0 Cknes s and other symptoms of an extremely irritable stomach, thePyi r , , ®d extract of colocynth occasionally proves invaluable. Occu-Pto du ( .- Ut a sma11 bulk, it is retained on the stomach, and succeeds inP°H$ eo ln S alvine evacuations, where the ordinary liquid purgatives fail, inlen ce of being vomited up. Doubtful cases of intus-susception andbev e q’ ev en with stercoraceous vomiting, I have seen completely re-j ■5) it. More than once have I known an operation averted by itsH ich . u'ose who, in addition to the above symptoms, had old hemiae,

\ e d the

surgeon to suspect strangulation. A slight degree of ab-

w ouxgcuu IU suo^i/Ui> >3uuiiguiauvii> J-x. ougm uvgivu v/i.

tenderness is not to be considered as absolutely prohibiting its